Wrench.



A. H. WOLFE. WRENCH.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

" rrup s'ra'rns ra'rniyar enrich.

ALBERT I-I. WOLFE, or KILA, MONTANA.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters .Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed July 29', 1914. Serial No. 853,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. WOLFE, of Kila, in the county of Flathead and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the" art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a wrench which will be composed of comparatively few parts; one which may be used with equal facility for handling articles of cylindrical formation in cross section, such as pipes, and likewise those of square or other polygonal shape, that is to say, a tool which may serve all the purposes of a pipe-wrench and a nut wrench combined.

A further object is to provide a tool of this character having jaws which are normally open so that articles of various sizes may be picked up without the necessity of first adjusting the jaws.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position occupied by the parts when the tool is used as a nut-wrench. Fig. 3 is a view of the adjustable jaw detached. Fig. 4. is a vertical longitudinal sectional view.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the stationary jaw which is shown as formed at right angles to its shank or manipulating handle 2, which latter is preferably provided with a rounded portion as customary. In the center of this stationary jaw is formed a rectangular opening 3 through which is designed to pass the shank 4: of an adjustable jaw 5, and as this shank extends from the center of the adjustable jaw there is an equal amount of material on both sides of the centers of both jaws. The portions of the two jaws which constitute thepipe-wrench are serrated, but the remaining portions form ing the nut-wrench are smooth. The opening in the fixed jaw allows the shank of the adjustable jaw to move longitudinally and also rock in the plane of the fixed jaw.

'On shank 4: I form a screw-thread 6 with which engages a nut 7 which I have shown in the form of an elongated sleeve inclosing a substantial portion of the shank. By adjusting this sleeve-nut the position of the movable jaw may be controlled. This sleeve nut serves a further purpose of acting as a weight for the movable jaw, and as a result the pipe-wrench portion of the two jaws is normally open-in the form of an inverted V so that articles of various diameters may be readily engaged and picked up without the necessity of adjusting the jaws.

Then it is desired to use the tool as a nutwrench the operator draws the shank of the adjustable jaw parallel with the shank of the fixed jaw, causing the two nut-engaging portions of the jaws to be parallel, as shown in Fig. 2. However, when the tool is not used in the manner last suggested it will, under the action of the weight of the sleevenut always be ready for use for picking up rods, bars or pipes, the hold on which may be increased, when necessary by moving the shank of the movable jaw toward the shank of the fixed jaw. But ordinarily no such movement is necessary since the bite effected by the opposed serrated faces of the two jaws insures the necessary contact between the article and the tool. Under such circumstances the adjustable jaw moves on the fixed jaw, that is to say, its shank fulcrums in the opening of the latter. When the tool is used for comparatively small cylindrical objects the pressure of the parts is taken up by the outer ends of the nut-wrench portions of the two jaws.

The advantages of my invention will readily be appreciated by those skilled in the art. It will be seen that I dispense with all springs and other parts liable to readily get out of order. My wrench comprises but three parts, and yet it is capable of a maximum range of use. Normally it is ready for use as a pipe-wrench, and by the mere movement of one jaw relatively to the other may be employed as a nut-wrench.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wrench comprising a fixed jaw having a shank extending laterally therefrom, said jaw having an opening formed therein at its center, an adjustable jaw having a shank extending therefrom at its center and projecting through said opening, said shank having a threaded portion, and an elongated cylindrical nut engaging said thread and Ill 2. A wrench comprising a fiXed jaw having a central opening, a shank extending from said jaw, said jaw on one side of said opening being smooth and on the other side serrated, an adjustable jaw corresponding in length to the fixed jaw, a shank extending from said adjustable jaw through the opening in said fixed jaw, said adjustable jaw on one side of said shank being smooth and on the other side serrated, the corresponding portions of thejaws being opposed to each other, said shank being exteriorly threaded, and an elongated sleeve-nut engaging said shank for adjusting the posi- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the tion of the adjustable jaw, said sleeve-nut forming a hand covering for said shank, the weight of said sleeve-nut and said shank being capable of holding the two jaws at an angle to each other, with the serrated p01- tions of the jaws separated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALBERT H. WOLFE.

Witnesses:

J NOTA MCGILL, CHARLES LOWELL HowARm Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G." 

